Run-stop for hosiery



p 1965 M. M. FREDERICK RUN-STOP FOR HOSIERY Filed May 1, 1962 UnitedStates Patent 3,208,241 RUN-8T0? FOR HOSIERY Mahlon M. Frederick,Souderton, Pa., assignor to Van Raalte Company, Inc, New York, N.Y., acorporation of New York Filed May 1, 1962, Ser. No. 193,055 3 Claims.(Cl. 66-172) This invention relates to hosiery .and more particularly tothe toe portion threof, and is a continuation-in-part of applicationSerial No. 854,868, filed November 23, 1959, now abandoned.

It is customary to knit so-called seamless stockings on plain knittingmachines, such as shown in US. Patent 1,- 282,958, whereon the stockingis knitted in a continuous operation. Such machines are automatic and,through a system of prearranged cams, levers and latches, knits thestocking from the reinforced Welt at the top to the loops and waste atthe toe in a continuous operation. After it is completed, the stockingis removed from the machine and positioned on a looper where the wasteis trimmed and the loops are sewed together to close the toe portion,completing the stocking.

In the knitting operation of the machine, the welt, leg and footportions are knitted by a rotary operation of the knitting cylinder andthe heel and toe portions are knitted by a reciprocating operation ofthe cylinder.

Thus, in the welt, leg and foot portions the knitted courses extendcircumferentially around the stocking, while, in the reinforced heel andtoe portions, the courses extend only partially around the stocking.

Most hosiery, especially womens hosiery to which the instant inventionparticularly relates, are outer Wearing apparel and, hence, appearanceis of primary importance. Considerable effort, therefore, has beendirected toward making hosiery attractive and, at the same time,serviceable. Appearance and serviceability have been attained byknitting the leg and foot portions with a relatively fine thread to forma sheer fabric in the leg and foot and by knitting a heavier thread inthe heel and toe portions to reinforce such areas where the stocking isnormally subject to greatest Wear. These reinforced areas are usuallyknitted from the heavier thread during reciprocal operation of theknitting drum and are knitted in such a fashion as not to detract fromthe over-all appearance of the hose particularly in those areas wherethe stocking will not be covered by the shoe.

With the use of low cut and open toed shoes the appearance of thereinforced toe portion of hosiery has become of significant importance.One of the steps which has been followed to improve the appearance ofwomens hose when worn with low cut shoes has been to decrease the extentof the reinforced area, especially on the top of the foot where the hosemay be exposed by the shoe. In such hose, the reinforced area on the topof the hose is usually substantially less than the reinforced area onthe bottom or sole of the toe and such reinforced toe, for purposes ofthis application, is referred to as a demitoe.

While the use of reinforced areas of heavier thread have been effective,to a large extent, in improving the serviceability of womens hose, itdoes not prevent runs, which emanate from cuts, snags, or the like inthe toe, from progressing longitudinally, upward into the foot and [legportions. Recently, it has been proposed to add a course of tucked andfloated stitches between the foot and reinforced toe portion tointercept runs emanating from cuts and snags in the reinforced toeportion and prevent such runs from progressing into the foot and legportions. Such tucked and floated courses have been formed as a bandextending circumferentially around the toe, between the toe and footportions, and have been found to be only partially effective inintercepting runs. In addition, such tucked and floated stitches extendin a band in a straight line across the top of the foot portion tendingto detract from the appearance of the stocking, particularly when wornwith a shoe low cut across the toe.

A principal object of this invention is to knit into hose, between thefoot and toe portions, an effective barrier to prevent runs emanating inthe toe portion from progressing upward into the foot and 'leg portion.

A further object is to provide such a barrier which will not detractfrom the appearance of the hose.

A still further object is to knit such a barrier into the hose duringknitting in such a fashion that the barrier can be easily concealed 'bya shoe.

These and other objects will be apparent from the detailed descriptionof an embodiment of the invention and the illustrations of the attacheddrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a stocking having a run resistingband between the foot and toe portions thereof according to the instantinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view diagrammatically illustrating the stitchpattern in the run resisting band of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the toe portion of the stocking of FIG. 1,as viewed from the side of the stocking, showing diagrammatically thepattern of the knitted course in the toe.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is shown a stocking,generally designated 2, having a welt 4, a leg portion 6, a reinforcedheel portion 8, a foot portion 10 and a toe portion 12. Between the footpor- :tion 10 and toe portion 12 is provided a band of courses 14 formedin accordance with the teaching of the invention, which, for purposes ofdescripiton will be referred to as a run-stop.

The stocking 2 is knitted on a circular knitting machine, such as thatshown in U.S. Patent 1,232,958, the welt 4, leg 6, foot 10 and band 14being knitted by con tinuous circular rotation of the knitting cylinderand the heel 8 and toe 12 being knitted by reciprocating! oscillationsof the cylinder. When the exception of the band or run-stop 14, thestocking 2 may be knitted in any manner either from a single orplurality of threads, may include a knitted design pattern, if desired,and may include reinforcing thread at the welt, heel and toe.

As best shown in enlarged view in FIG. 2, run-stop 14 consists in aplurality of courses of alternately arranged knitted and tuckedstitches, the knitted and tucked pattern, as shown in FIG. 2, beingrepeated around the stocking. The run-stop is, preferably, knitted witha heavier reinforcing yarn of the type conventionally used in thereinforced heel and toe portions and, in addition, also includes asecond yarn which is knitted and floated into the run-stop.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an enlarged view illustratingthe stitch pattern of the run-stop of the invention. For purposes ofillustration the wales, extending longitudinally of the hose, have beendesignated alphabetically, a, b, c, and d and the courses, extendingcircumferentially, have been designated numerically, 20 through 41.While only four wales are illustrated, it is to be understood thestocking contains more than four wales, the four wales illustratedforming a pattern which is repeated around the stocking.

As aforestated, conventionally, stockings are knitted from top tobottom, that is, the first portion knitted is the welt and the lastportion knitted is the toe. Hence, with respect to the FIG. 2, the firstcourse knitted in the run-stop is 21, the courses being thenprogressively knitted, the last course knitted in the run-stop being 41.

As shown in FIG. 2, 20 is the last course of the foot portion to beknitted before the run-stop, 20 being knitted at each Wale, a, b, c, andd, and circumferentially around the foot, usually from the more sheeryarn employed in the leg. After the knitting cylinder has completed itsrevolution in knitting this course, it commences knitting the run-stopusing the same yarn as used in the leg and foot and, in addition, asecond, or float yarn of a weight slightly more than the main yarn isalso added. In course designated 21, the first course of the run-stop,the stitches in the wales are knitted. In wales a and c of course 22,both the main yarn and the float yarn are knitted, while, in wales b and03 one yarn is tucked and the other floated. Upon completion of course22, the same pattern is continued through course 23 which includesalternately arranged knitted and tucked stitches,v

both yarns being knitted in the former and the main yarn tucked with thefloat yarn floated across the tucked stitch in the latter.

On completion of 23, the knitting cylinder continues into 24 with achange, however, in the knitting pattern. In walle a of 24, the mainyarn is tucked and the float yarn floated, while, in wales b and d, boththe main yarn and float yarn are knitted and in wale c both yarns areknitted. Thus, 24 consists in a tucked and floated stitch thecircumferential extent of the course. 25 and 26 are identical, bothcourses containing a tucked and floated stitch in wales a and c andknitted stitches, which include both the main yarn and float-ed yarn, inwales b and d.

After completing 26, the knitting cylinder continues In wales a, b and cof 29 and 30, both the main yarn"- and float yarn are knitted and inWale d the main yarn is tucked and the float yarn floated. In 31, allwales are knitted, both the main yarn and the float yarn being knitted,while in 32, in Wale a the main yarn is tucked and the float yarnfloated and in wales b, c and d both the main yarn and float yarn areknitted. Both yarns are knitted in all wales of 33. In 34 and 35 bothyarns are knitted in Wales a and c and the main yarn tucked and thefloat yarn floated in wales b and d. In 36, in

Wale a, the main yarn is tucked and the float yarn floated, while inwales a and c of both 37 and 38 the main yarn is tucked and the floatyarn floated and in b and d both yarns are knitted. -In 39 and 41, bothyarns are knitted in all courses, while in 40 both yarns are knitted inWales a and c and the main yarn is tucked and the float yarn floated inwales b and d.

While the run-stop is knitted as a circumferential band between the footand toe portions, as will be noted from FIG. 1, in the finished hose therun-stop is off-set at the top of the hose, the section of the run-stopon the top of the hose being closer to the toe end than the section onthe bottom. This off-set relationship is accomplished by varying thelength of the courses knitted in the reinforced toe portion during thereciprocating knitting of the reinforced toe.

After completing the last course of the run-stop, the knitting machineknits the reinforced toe portion. As aforestated, this portion isknitted by a reciprocating action of the knitting cylinder, thealternate courses being knitted as the cylinder moves clockwise andalternate courses being knitted as the cylinder moves counterclockwise.By selectively varying the number of stitches knitted in each courseduring reciprocating operation of the knitting cylinder, the toe portionor pocket is shaped 30 and three knitted stitches. This pattern isrepeated for 4. in such fashion that the top or upper section of thecircumferentially knitted run-stop is off-set forward on the hose toform the demi-toe.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the reciprocal operation of the knittingcylinder begins a preset number of needles knitting a continuous courseof stitches, such course being designated x in FIG. 3. As each followingcourse is knitted an additional needle is added to the opposite ends ofthe knitting cylinder in such manner that each course following courseat contains two more stitches, one at each end, than does the courseimmediately preceding.

The addition of a stitch at the opposite ends of each progressivelyknitted course is continued until a sufficient number of courses,depending on the size of the hose, have been knitted. As knittingprogresses beyond this point, a needle is removed from the knittingoperation at either end of each progressively knitted course. Forexample, in course y, and in the courses which follow, a needle has beenremoved at the opposite end of the course during the knitting of thiscourse and the courses which follow. Thus, course y, and the followingcourses, contain two stitches less, one at each end, than does thecourse immediately preceding. This knitting operation is continued tothe end of the line 42 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. In the courses knittedthereafter, the machine again adds one needle to the opposite end ofeach course on each progressively knitted course. Thus, the coursedesignated 2 on FIG. 3 contains two stitches, one at each of itsopposite ends, more than the course immediately preceding. The courseswhich follow course 2: each contain two more stitches, one stitch ateach of its opposite ends. When the desired length has been attained,for example at course w of FIG. 3, the machine then knits one loosecourse of lengthened stitches or loops and then knits in a circularcontinuous rotation of the knitting cylinder to form the waste portion.When the hose is completed, it is removed from the machine andpositioned on a looper where the waste portion is trimmed from the hoseand the loops sewed to close the toe portion as shown at 16 in FIG. 3.

In addition to off-setting the run-stop to form the demitoe, it has beenfound that the selective increasing, then decreasing and, thereafter,increasing the length of the courses knitted by the reciprocatingoperation of the knitting cylinder in the reinforced toe portionprovides a neat, even appearing fabric in the reinforced toe pocket.Thus, rather than a wide loose knitted appearing section or gussetbetween the courses extending across the top of the toe portion and thecourses extending across the bottom, the ends of the courses are joineddirect to each other in what, from the standpoint of appearance, is asingle, relatively straight line 42 at either side of the reinforced toeportion.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation. and there is no intention, in the useof such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognizedthat various modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A circularly knit stocking having wales extending longitudinallythereof, a leg, foot and toe portions, a section resistant to runsprogressing in said wales, said section extending circumferentiallyaround said stocking and including at least two yarns, said yarns beingselectively knitted, tucked and floated in the Wales of said sections toform a band extending circumferentially around the foot portion of saidstocking, the portion of said band at the top of said foot portion beingoff-set longitudinally with respect to the portion of said band at thebottom of said foot portion said band intermediate said off-set top andbottom portions extending substantially longitudinally of 5 said footportion and substantially at right angle to said top and bottomportions.

2. In a circularly knit stocking as recited in claim 1, said sectionresistant to runs being intermediate said foot and toe portions.

3. A circularly knit stocking having Wales extending longitudinallythereof, a leg, foot and toe portions, a section resistant to runsintermediate said foot and toe portions and including at least two yarnsselectively knitted, tucked and floated in the wales of said section,said band extending circumferentially around said foot portion, theportion of said band at the top of said foot portion being oif-setlongitudinally with respect to the portion of said band at the bottom ofsaid foot portion, said toe portion including courses extendingpartially around said stocking, the number of Wales in each of saidcourses in said toe portion progressively increasing, then decreasingand, therafter increasing, as said courses progress from the portion ofsaid hand at the top of said foot portion to the portion of said band atthe bottom of said foot portion.

References tCited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Black 66-187Costello 66-172 Williams 66-187 Goodman 2-241 Quinn 66-172 Smetana66-172 Hamilton 66-172 X Bellman 2.. 66-172 Tew 66-187 Reyn1es-Co1e66-185 X Great Britain.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

RUSSELL C. MADER, Examiner.

1. A CIRCULARLY KNIT STOCKING HAVING WALES EXENDING LONGITUDINALLYTHEREOF, A LEG FOOT AND TOE PORTIONS, A SECTION RESISTANT TO RUNSPROGRESSING IN SAID WALES, SAID SECTION EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLYAROUND SAID STOCKING AND INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO YARNS, SAID YARNS BEINGSELECTIVELY KNITTED, TUCKED AND FLOATED IN THE WALES OF SAID SECTIONS TOFORM A BAND EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY AROUND THE FOOT PORTION OF SAIDSTOCKING, THE PORTION OF SAID BAND